Grain-drill



UNITED STATES PATENT V-r1ucn JOHN L. Asnunsr, on HAVANA, ILLINoIs.` f

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,961, dated May 6, 1884.

Application filed January 1i, 1884. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. AsHURs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Havana, in the county of Mason and State 0f Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Drills; and I do hereby declare that the following -is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,'reference being had to the annexed drawings, makinga .part of this specification, and tothe letters and tigures of reference marked thereon;

Figure 1 of the drawings is aside elevation of a grain-drill, showing my improvements;l Fig.. 2, a detail view of a portion of the Iorward frames front cross-piece and the manner of connecting the flat springs thereto.

of the front frame, A, are a series of springs,

G, preferably flat, and sufliciently strong, said springs extending back and connecting with the top of the Shanks or boots b, attached to the rear end of the runners C, so that pressure applied on these springs acts directly on-the heel of the runner to press it into the earth, the front frame resting entirely on the springs independent of any side wheels to support the same, or hand-levers for adjusting the runners. Though the springs Gr may be connected to the front cross-piece, a, of the front frame, A, in any suitable or convenient manner, I prefer to secure them in the manner represented-by Fig.

2,. which consists in a clamp or binding-piece, c, placed over each spring at its front end, a bolt or screw, d, acting asapiv'ot, being passed through said clamp, spring, and front crosspiece. Atthe rear of the cross-piece, upon its under side, is placed another clamp or binding-piece, e, which is recessed, as shown at j",

to form a seat for the spring, this latterl clamp.

being of the same length as the former, and arranged with relation to springs in the same manner, though, if found more convenient,

these clamps or binding-pieces may be each made of one continuous piece, the runners at their front ends being pivotally connected to the cross-piece c between the clamps. If desired to give the springs G greater lateral motion, the rear clamp, e, may be reversed, the recess forming a seat for the spring being of greater' width in this instance, as shown at g.

Hinged to the front frame, A, and extending back over the rear cross-piece of the rear frame, E, are foot-rests H, to which are secured vertical standards h, to which are clamped or otherwise connected similar standards, t', secured to a seat-slide, I, so as to admit ofthe latter being vertically adjusted to suit the height of the driver, a pivoted brace-rod, K, extending from the front frame to the rear of said seatsli-de. n

In order to force the runners C deeper in the earth, the driver upon the seat L moves forward with his feet upon the rests H, thus exerting his weight upon the forward portion f of the machine, by which the desired object is n accomplished, and to cause the runners to enter the ground a less depth he merely slides backward sufficiently to relieve said front portion of the machine of so much weight as is necessary, while to remove the runners entirely from contact with the soil he slides back nearly or entirely the length of said slide, thus having greater control and adjustment of the drill than is possible with those of the ordi-v nary construction.

For conveying the seed from the dropper, so as to allow of the Shanks and runners being adapted to inequalities inthe ground, I employ rubber or other iexible pipes extending from the seedopenings in the bottom of the hopper to thev interior of said shanks orboots, thus admitting of the same with relation tothe runners having a free and easy vertical as well as lateral play, this being a great advantage in lumpy or stony soil.

Connecting the shaft of the presser-wheels F and the seed-dropper in the hopper B is the usual and ordinary gearing, controlled by a hand-lever within easy reach of the driver.

Having now fully described my invention,

IOO

Shanks or boots, of spring connected thereto and to the cross-piece of the front frame by means substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

'in testimony that I Claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ulating its height by vertical adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In L grain-drill, the combination, with the runners thereof, provided with the usual JOHN L. ASHURST.

\\"'itnesses: Issue N. MITCHELLZ, v N. C. KING. 

